Alvin b



(No Model.)

A. B. NEIMAN 8v O. A. SHETTER, WHIPFLETREE HOOK.

N0.429,284. PatentedJunes,189o.

* UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALVIN B. NEIMAN AND CHARLES A. SHETTER, OF YORK, PENNSYLVANIA.

WHIFFLETREE-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 429,284, dated June 3, 1890.

Application filed March 19, 1890.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, ALVIN B. NEIMAN and CHARLES A. SHETTER, citizens of the United States, residing at York, in the county of York and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VVhiletree Ferrules and Hooks; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to whitietree-fei rules and to hooks or buttons for attaching and detaching traces, the hook or button being capable in each instance of turning to facilitate these operations andheld by a spring.

Our invention consists in the construction and combination of parts hereinafter particularly set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a perspective view of a whiftletreeferrule and whiifletree hook or button embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal section through the same. Fig. 3 represents the button head, shank, and spring detached.

A designates a ferrule, preferably of brass, for the end of a whifetree. This has at its outer end a narrow hollow neck A', which is provided with an annular internal shoulder a, said shoulder affording a bearing for the outer end of a spring B. This annularshoulder leaves a central opening a', through which extends inwardly the shank or stem C of the button or hook D for fastening the trace to the whiftietree. The lower end of this stem or shank has ahead c formed thereon, which affords a lower bearing for said spring. The stress of the latter tends to draw said shank or stem inwardly and hold the button against the outer face of t-he ferrule. Said button is screw-tapped at d to receive the screw-threaded upper end c of said stem. The opposing faces of the ferrule and button are provided with sets of ratchet-teeth constituting circular ratchets E F. These t together and prevent turning in one direction, while allowing it in the other. The screw= threads of the button or hook D and stem C are arranged with reference to t-he facing of Serial No. 344,493. (No model.)

these ratchets, in order that the turning of the button may not tend to loosen its attachment to the stem or shank. Thus in the present instance the threads have a pitch to 'the right, whereas the button turns to the left. Its motion thus tends to tighten it on the stem.

Vhen the trace is to be attached or detached1 the button or hook D is simply turned to the right or left, as the case may be, without any need to pull it away from the ferrule, the inclined faces of the ratchetE on the button riding over the similar faces of the ratchet F on the ferrule until the button is in line with the eye of the trace. The latter is then easily slipped over said button, and for fastening the trace the button is turned farther in the same direction until it is at right angles with said trace.

The spring B holds the two ratchets together, and the square faces of the ratchets prevent the button from turning in the reverse direction. No parts are needed besides those above stated.

WVhen the button or hook D is pushed outward, so as to disengage the ratchets, and held in this position by outward pressure against the stem C, the said hook may be easily unscrewed from said stem for cleaning or other purposes; but when the ferrule is on the whiflietree such disengagement is impossible.

Having thusfully described our invention, whatwe claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a whiletree-hook, the combination of a ferrule provided with a neck integral therewith to support the trace, a shoulder on the neck to prevent the trace slipping laterally, a rotatable hook provided with a ratchetface co-operating with a similar face on the end of the neck, a pin c, connected to the hook by a screw-joint on the outer end, and spring B, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof We aiiix our signatures in presence of two Witnesses.

ALVIN B. NEIMAN. CHARLES A. SHETTER.

Witnesses:

WM. J. NES, EDWD. CHAPIN. 

